Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

A. What happens to a person when he accepts Jesus as his Lord and Master?

Read Revelation 3:20:

If you open the door of your heart what will happen?

Read 2 Corinthians 5:17:

According to 2 Corinthians 5:17 what has happened at conversion?

Recognize that a miracle has taken place in your life. You are a new creation in Christ; you have had a change of heart. Now you must learn God's Word in order to have a change in concepts. God's Word is truth, and the truth shall set you free (John 8:32). You have a new interest in spiritual and eternal things, even though you still live in a material world. You now have a real relationship with Jesus Christ; you now posses eternal life, provisionally.

B. How do we know our sins are forgiven?

Read 1 John 1:9; Isaiah 55:6-7; Acts 2:21:

These Scriptures show that if we call on the name of the Lord, our sins, and forsake our old and , God will have on us.

It is important to realize that the assurance of salvation is not based on feelings. The assurance of salvation, of forgiveness, and of victory is found only in the Word of God. Feelings change, but God's Word never changes. Many things affect our feelings: outward circumstances, health, difficulties in our lives, etc. We cannot and must not depend upon feelings to assure us of salvation. One day we may feel saved; the next day we may be assailed with doubts. Therefore, we must depend on the one thing that never changes-- the Word of God (Luke 21:33).

C. How do we know God has accepted us?

Read John 6:37:

If anyone comes to Jesus,.

Also, read Jeremiah 29:13.

D. How do we know God will not leave us?

God promises us in Hebrews 13:5 and Romans 8:38,39 that once we come to Him He will never leave us nor forsake us; nothing can separate us from His love. Read Philippians 1:6:

God has begun a good work in us and will it until the day of Jesus Christ.

E. How are we to regard our old life as sinners before we knew Jesus?

Read Luke 9:62 and Philippians 3:7-9:

After we come into our new relationship with Jesus, how are we to consider our old life in comparison?

Read also Ephesians 5:8-13:

We are now children of and should not associate with the unfruitful works of

.

F. What should a Christian do if he fails God?

1 John 1:9:

When we find we have sinned, what should we do?

If we confess our sins and truly repent, what does God do?

According to 1 Corinthians 10:13, is there any temptation that we are not able to overcome?

It is important to know the difference between simply being tempted and actually yielding to temptation:

1. Expect temptation. There is nothing unusual or abnormal about being tempted. Everybody, whether saved or unsaved, good or evil, is tempted. The problem is not whether or not we are tempted, but whether or not we resist temptation. God has made provision for us to be victorious over temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).

2. Temptation is not sin, rather it is an enticement to sin. If we do not indulge in the enticement, then we commit no sin. Jesus was tempted in all points, yet He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15,16). James 1:14,15 tells us, "Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lusts, and enticed." Resisting the desire to sin is victory, and every new victory over temptation means additional spiritual growth.

3. Temptation is in the will of God. Matthew 4:1 tells us that Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness "to be tempted of the devil." If this was the plan of God for His Son, then it will be God's plan for us also. We must realize that it is necessary for us to be tempted, tried, tested, and proven in order to be effectively used of God. (Note: God Himself did not tempt Jesus, but allowed Satan to do so.) God allows us to be tempted that we might become strong through His power, to His glory.

4. If we give in to temptation and fail God we should confess this failure and sin to God immediately. Be explicit about it (e.g. "Lord, I lied"; or "Lord, I cheated"; etc.). Ask for forgiveness. Ask for help for the next time you face temptation.

G. What does God expect of His children?

1. John 14:21; Romans 12:1,2:

We see by these Scriptures that God expects us to be to His commandments and will.

God expects us to be obedient; however, He will never force us to obey. In His Word He tells us what He expects of us, and then it is up to us to obey or disobey. The secret of real Christian success is immediate obedience. James 4:17: "To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

2. Philippians 4:6,7; John 16:23,24; Ephesians 6:18:

God expects us to .

Prayer is the expression of our own heart in our own words to our heavenly Father. It is giving vent to that warm, tender yearning and love towards God that we feel deep inside. It does not matter whether our prayers are long or short, loud or soft, eloquent or not. The important thing is that we express our feelings to God honestly and fervently.

3. Psalm 113:1-3; Romans 15:6; Psalm 47:6:

We should be constantly through all things, even in trials.

Praise and thanksgiving is a very vital part of our walk with God. There are literally hundreds of Scriptures in the Bible that tell us to praise the Lord. The best place to learn to praise Him is in church services when the entire congregation is praising Him.

It is important to read and study the Bible that the Spirit may be able to quicken portions to your heart. This will strengthen you and enable you to be an effective tool for God to work through.

5. Hebrews 10:24,25; 1 Corinthians 14:26:

We need to have with other Christians; we must be faithful to gather together because each member of the Body is important.

Church and fellowship. As part of a new family, the Body of Christ, it is your obligation to participate as part of that family in order to grow and become what God wants you to be.

6. Psalm 37:5; Psalm 118:8; Hebrews 11:1:

We are to the Lord and have that He will meet the needs we have in our life.

God expects us to trust Him with our lives and to put our faith in Him, not in ourselves. We first learn to trust the Lord by taking little things in our lives to Him. This increases our faith, causing us to trust Him to lead us through every trial and situation.

7. James 4:7; Ephesians 6:11-18:

In order to we are to put on the of God.

The best resistance against evil is truth. "Know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." In order to fully know the truth we must study God's Word and put on "the whole armour of God."

8. 1 Peter 3:15; Acts 1:8; Isaiah 43:10; Colossians 4:5,6:

We are to be God's by what we and how we around others, especially the unsaved. We must be faithful to share with others the we have within us.

Another source of daily strength comes from witnessing to others about what Jesus means to us. We are witnessing at all times by the way we act; some witness to their selfishness and their meanness, while others witness to their love of God by their deeds and words. As a Christian, your actions and words around others should be blameless; people should be able to see that you are different, a shining example of the love of God at all times.